King of the Seditious
Concessions

It was late that evening when Savage decided to risk entering the alehouse. To his surprise it was relatively empty.

Good. I didn’t want snooping ears anyway.

He walked to the counter and stopped to give the men there a slow study. He didn’t have to say a word for them all to scatter. Abandoning the counter entirely.

He took the seat directly in-front of Dimurah. So. she can’t avoid me, no matter how angry she is.

“What do you want?”

“A tankard to start with.” He sighed.

Her eyes narrowed as she awaited some humiliating declaration.

But he made none.

Not tonight.

She slapped the drink down in-front of him.

But it wasn’t ale. It was her Sleep Duster tea.

She knew I didn’t sleep.

If she only knew the truth...

He picked up the wooden spoon she proffered and began lightly stirring the tea.

She leaned across the counter.

Ready to fight.

“It wasn’t one day, Murah.” He sighed. Stirring his drink thoughtfully. Reluctant to recall what he’d seen.

Her suffering.

The trader had been dragging Dimurah up and down the dock by her hair. Offering her up to the sailors for coin. Cuffing her when she whimpered or told him she was afraid.

I watched her for a sennight. And everything he was doing to her.

Or letting be done to her by other sailors who offered enough coin.

I’d never seen anything like the light around her. He’d been true when he told Chavias he was sure there was something special about her.

“Well, that day you came down to the bow?”

A dark hole where the trader had kept her. A terrified thirteen-year-old girl. Shivering. With a tear-stained face.

“Do you remember what you asked me?”

Of course, I do.

I ask it often. To Chavias.

“Yes.” He lifted blue eyes to look at her.

Why are we rehashing memories that are painful for her? Memories she never speaks of?

“You asked if I was ready. To be free.” She reminded him.

I did. What about it? He was eyeing her warily. Afraid of where this was going.

“Yes?” He affirmed.

“And I said yes.”

So, I freed you.

He recalled it very clearly.

The trader had come down the stairs shouting about Savage talking to his “goods” without permission. Then he’d offered her up to Savage for ‘the right price.’

Which irritated me. Savage had grabbed the tiny prick the man had been waving and slit his throat. Then drug it down his windpipe. Watching him crumble and flail as he fought for air. Gargling on his own fluids as he strangled.

She sobbed in panic behind him, so he’d moved to block her view until the man was dead.

Then he turned and began up the stairs. His boots thunking as the wood beneath him creaked.

It’s done.

“Wait!” She called.

For what? There’s nothing more to do here.

He paused near the deck. Turning to look back down at her. Ducking to keep from hitting his head. Making the kill beads in his yellow hair rattle.

“I’ve nowhere to go!” She wept.

Fine. Then go with me.

He’d given her a long study. Then outstretched his calloused hand to her. Cautioning. “You’ll never be the same if you take it.”

She looked at it a moment, before tentatively putting her smaller one in it.

Then I brought her back here. To the Blue Lark.

“You said yes. So, I killed him. And brought you here.” He said blandly. As emotionlessly as he always did.

Seemed an accurate summary.

“Yes, you did.” She murmured. Scrubbing the countertop. “But you asked if I was ready to be free.”

What of it?

“Yes?” His blonde brow knitted as he frowned at her. “What are you saying, Murah?”

Are you implying I keep you prisoner here?

“I’m thankful for all you did. But you promised I’d be free.”

That was like a punch to the gut. “You are free.”

“Not when you’re always here, hovering over me, controlling who I talk to. Controlling who comes into Winter’s Haven. And killing anyone you don’t like here...”

Controlling is what you think?

“What is it you want me to do?” His blue eyes were unblinking.

If I don’t, I leave you to the wolves...

“Let me go.” She asserted. Ceasing wiping the countertop to give him a long look.

I don’t keep you here. I keep you safe.

I’d keep you safe anywhere you went. But he was very sure that was the opposite of what she asked him for.

So she was presenting him with very limited options.

Options he wasn’t too keen on.

“I’ll think about it.” He rose and began walking from the alehouse. Only going a few steps before rounding. “Let me clarify, what you’re wanting is for me to remove my protection, in all forms, from the Winter’s Haven?”

She nodded. Twisting the rag in her hand.

You don’t know what you’re asking for...

“I’ll think about it.”

She nodded slowly and blew a long breath. Going back to wiping the counter.

He stepped outside. Closing the door. As his face darkened the vicious rain came in with a whirlwind current that stirred the pond the Winter’s Haven was built on enough that it was swinging, only held to land by the wooden dock it braced on.

Savage stalked along the dock and out into the Guild. Fury written over his face and looking to fight the first man that crossed his path. Feeling the need to crush someone.